Today, six school districts in Muskegon County are conducting elections along with several cities. Many districts chose to hold their elections today as a cost-saving measure.

When schools piggyback on other elections, the cost goes down. A “stand-alone” school district election — one that is held for the school district only — can range in cost from $4,000 in a very small district to $1 million in Detroit. The average cost statewide is $25,000.

With school districts pinching every penny, this move makes sense — the costs are reduced but the ballot is not so long that voters are fatigued by the time they get to the local school portion.

Under a package of bills being debated in the Legislature, school elections would be required in November of even years, 2012 for instance, a presidential election year. Or 2014, when the governor and many state senators and representatives will be selected.

Getting voters out to a school election is important. Michigan residents consistently list education as one of their top five concerns, but fewer than 5 percent show up at the polls during a February, May or August election.

Because schools can vary what month they use for elections, it can be difficult for voters to keep track. It makes sense to require all school elections to be held in November, when voters are conditioned to go to the polls.

However, requiring school elections to be held when the ballot is loaded with candidates during a general election is a mistake. Sure, the turnout will be significantly higher — Michigan averages around 50 percent for a general election — but school issues will be lost among the higher profile races. And with such a long ballot, some voters may never get to the nonpartisan races.

It happens now with judicial races.

The Chronicle Editorial Board suggests a compromise. Allow school elections to continue in odd numbered years, but move township and county elections to that schedule as well. That way, depending on where they live, every school voter will have several reasons to go to the polls in the odd years — school, township, city and county races.

More voters are likely to turn out, giving these candidates the scrutiny they deserve. A shared election still will reduce the overall cost.

And voters can concentrate on local issues during the odd numbered years and state and national issues during the traditional, even-numbered general election years.

Lawmakers should rethink these bills if they're really interested in creating a better informed electorate and not just focused on diluting the alleged impact of the Michigan Education Association on local elections.